“We’re faced with ice,” said Lt. Kevin Hafemann. “Obviously we didn’t have to lay a line and start flowing water, but at this point just getting over the curbs, driveways, all the ice melt is a trip hazard alone for the firefighters going in.”

Firefighters said there are risks when driving on snow- and ice-covered roads, but the real danger faces them once they step outside the truck.

“You can slip anywhere -- inside the house, outside the house, on the ladders, on the roof,” said Lt. Tim Leszczynski.

In bitter cold, the water used to snuff out flames can turn to a frozen hazard quickly.

“We can never shut our lines down completely because the nozzles will freeze,” Leszczynski said.

Firefighters said they try to be as careful as they can to not fall and get hurt.

“We have a lot of problems with hydrants in the bitter cold,” Leszczynski said.

The spray of water often coats firefighters in ice.

“A whole night of it, it might wear on you by the end of it. Day-to-day we love what we do,” Leszczynski said.